The present study was designed to evaluate the voluntary post-activation potentiation (PAP) effects of moderate (MI) or high intensity (HI) back squat exercises on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance across multiple sets of a contrast training protocol. Sixty resistance-trained male subjects (age, 23.3 ± 3.3 y; body mass, 86.0 ± 13.9 kg; parallel back squat 1-repetition maximum [1-RM], 155.2 ± 30.0 kg) participated in a randomized, cross-over study. After familiarization, the subjects visited the laboratory on three separate occasions. They performed a contrast PAP protocol comprising three sets of either MI (6×60% of 1-RM) or HI back squats (4x90% of 1-RM) or 20 s of recovery (CTRL) alternated with seven CMJs that were performed at 15 s, and 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 min after the back squats or recovery. Jump height and relative peak power output recorded with a force platform during MI and HI conditions were compared to those recorded during control condition to calculate the voluntary PAP effect. CMJ performance was decreased immediately after the squats but increased across all three sets of MI and HI between 3 - 7 minutes post-recovery. However, voluntary PAP effects were small or trivial and no difference between the three sets could be found. These findings demonstrate that practitioners can use MI and HI back squats to potentiate CMJs across a contrast training protocol, but a minimum of 3 min of recovery after the squats is needed to benefit from voluntary PAP.

No abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by bradykinesia, tremor, rigidity, and postural instability. Motor disorders are composite and combined, adversely affecting the patient's health. Tremor and rigidity are correlated with worsening manual dexterity as well as postural changes such as akinesia and camptocormia. Moreover, gait alteration as well as postural instability, with consequent impairment in balance, increase the risk of falls. It is well known that these symptoms respond poorly to pharmacologic therapy in PD patients. Physical therapy is the most effective non-pharmacological aid to PD patients. Available data in the literature indicate that any rehabilitation protocol has to focus on: cognitive movement strategies, cueing strategies, and improved physical capacity and balance. Different training programs for PD patients have been designed and evaluated but only specific training strategies, tailored and individualized for each patient, may produce improvements in gait speed and stride length, decrease motor and balance symptoms and improve quality of life. Furthermore, aerobic training may improve muscle trophism, strength and mobility. It seems reasonable to state that tailored physical activity is a valid tool to be included in the therapeutic program of PD patients, considering that this approach may ameliorate the symptoms as well as the overall physical incapacity, reduce the risk of falls and injuries, and ultimately improve quality of life.

Sansone, P, Tschan, H, Foster, C, and Tessitore, A. Monitoring training load and perceived recovery in female basketball: Implications for training design. J Strength Cond Res 34(10): 2929–2936, 2020—This study investigated the relationship between internal training load and perceived recovery of semi-professional female basketball players during the competitive season. Eleven female players were monitored for 14 weeks during the in-season phase. For each event (training and game), data were collected as follows: (a) Total Quality Recovery (TQR) score before the event (TQRpre); (b) session Rating of Perceived Exertion (sRPE) 20 minutes after completion of the event, to calculate training load (s-TL) of the event; and (c) TQR scores 12 (TQRpost12) and 24 hours (TQRpost24) after the event. Data were analyzed for daily, weekly, and mesocycle (regular season; regional play-off; and national play-off) time frames. Daily analysis showed that: TQRpost12 was lower than TQRpre (p < 0.001) and TQRpost24 (p < 0.001); s-TL had a moderate negative correlation with TQRpost12 (r = −0.48, p = 0.002); the difference between TQRpre and RPE (TS-Δ) had a very large positive correlation with TQRpost12 (r = 0.70, p < 0.001); and TQRpost24 was not significantly correlated with training parameters. Weekly analysis highlighted a very large negative correlation between the acute:chronic workload ratio and TQR collected at the start of the following week (TQRfw) (r = −0.86, p < 0.001). Finally, although weekly TL and TQRfw did not differ between mesocycles, their correlation increased in the later seasonal phases. This study demonstrated negative relationships between training load and recovery of semi-professional female basketball players at daily, weekly, and mesocycle levels. Therefore, concurrently monitoring training and recovery with the sRPE method and TQR scale is recommended for designing training schedules in basketball.